Null-ray

Pew pew pew.

One of Starscream's signature weapons, the null-ray is capable of stopping any electronic device with one shot, be it a mindless machine or a living Transformer.

Except Megatron. All a blast from the null-ray does is make him angry. It doesn't work on the Dinobots either, but they were already pissed at Starscream and the jets.

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

The Transformers cartoon

Shortly after arriving at an oil platform with his fellow Decepticons, Starscream was ordered to fire his null-ray at some equipment causing the machinery to freeze and cease working. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1 After causing a tidal wave at Sherman Dam Megatron ordered Starscream to shoot three generators with null-ray blasts as part of their efforts to make Energon cubes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

After being discovered by Bumblebee, Starscream shot him with the null-ray allowing the Decepticons to modify his memory circuits to lead the Autobots into a trap. Transport to Oblivion

Later when Megatron had the power chip rectifiers of the Decepticons installed in himself before his battle with Optimus Prime Starscream lamented that he could no longer use the null-ray or his cluster bombs. A threat of termination from Megatron shut him up. Heavy Metal War

Starscream zapped Gears with the null ray so Megatron could extract the Autobot's special circuit. Changing Gears

Starscream suffering from a runny nose.

Determined not to be replaced by the human-built Nightbird, Starscream used his null-ray to fritz her circuits. Naturally, Megatron wasn't too happy about the loss of his new female "companion" and immediately labeled Starscream a traitor. Again. Enter the Nightbird

When Starscream was partnered up with the more-than-usually paranoid Red Alert Starscream fired his null-ray at Red Alert causing his already-unstable logic circuits to restabilize. Auto Berserk

"I am GOD!"

Later, Starscream was shown firing the null-ray from his nose while in vehicle mode. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1. Later still, he was shown firing it through his finger. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2

Starscream last used his null-ray at his coronation as leader of the Decepticons. During the coronation, the Constructicons played trumpets but Starscream, eager to get on with the ceremony used the null-ray to slice the instruments in half. The weapon was undoubtedly destroyed along with the rest of Starscream's chassis when he was blasted by a vengeful Megatron, now reborn as Galvatron. The Transformers: The Movie

In 2005, Marissa Faireborn had a hand-held blaster which fired null-rays. Whether this was reverse-engineered from a captured Seeker, developed with the help of the Autobots, or acquired by some sort of convoluted plan of Starscream's to replace Megatron is unknown. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

Battle Drive

Starscream maybe used his null-rays to paralyze a fleeing Bumblebee. Unable to move, Bumblebee became easy pickings for the Decepticons. Battle Drive

Peril from the Stars

While you visited your aunt and uncle at the Los Palmos observatory you met up with Jazz and went up against Starscream and Bombshell. A null-field, technology similar to Starscream's signature weapon was used to paralyze any unshielded machine to shut down when it approached the observatory. Peril from the Stars

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material

Null Rays were one of Starscream's primary weapons and powers, Earthrise webpage^[1] as was Thundercracker's. Kingdom webpage^[2]

Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity

Armada cartoon

When Starscream finally got his Mini-Con partner Swindle he gained a new attack called the "Null Laser Cannon". It didn't disable electrical stuff but created a big explosion instead. Jungle

Energon

Starscream had two lasers on his wings (the wings swiveled to position the laser cannons). He called these Null Beam Cannons. Again, they acted like very powerful blasters.

Cybertron cartoon

Starscream had two swiveling, very powerful laser cannons at his waist. He had two more stationary cannons, one on each of his forward wingtips. He called these Null Cannons. Once more, they acted like very powerful blasters. When he supersized, he replaced his broken Cyber Key-activated sword with a massive wide-bore null cannon. Fallen

Animated cartoon

Starscream packed null-rays as his main weapon. Sustained blasts from the weapons could wreak impressive damage on Earth-made buildings and managed to stun Optimus Prime's team for several seconds. Transform and Roll Out A point blank shot from the null-ray later proved strong enough to send Ultra Magnus flying off his stabilizing servos and in need of medical attention. Mission Accomplished

Starscream's clones inherited null-rays from their progenitor. A Bridge Too Close, Part I After being trapped in Mixmaster's cement, Thundercracker fired his null-rays at alternating frequencies, shattering the substance. TransWarped

Upon being detained by the Elite Guard, Sunstorm and Ramjet had their null-rays removed. Five Servos of Doom When Swindle freed the Elite Guard's prisoners, the arms dealer provided the clones with new null-rays. Decepticon Air

Live-action film series

Revenge of the Fallen

Starscream designed his null-ray himself. It was a weapon feared for its ability to deactivate electrical systems.^[3]

Dark of the Moon

Starscream possessed two MechTech null-ray cannons which could combine to create a large double-bladed weapon. Either cannon could also be used as a hand-held blade. Mechtech Deluxe Starscream

Bumblebee

Seekers each sported two Null Rays on each of his wings during Cybertron's fall. Bumblebee

Prime cartoon

Now she's stealing things he doesn't even have!

After losing his arm in a GroundBridge accident, Starscream waited on an operating table as Knock Out began suggesting upgrades to replace the lost limb. His highest recommendation for new armaments was a null-ray. Shadowzone

The Nemesis was armed with null-rays. Predacons Rising

Games

Transformers (PS2)

Starscream's null-ray sliced mountains in half. It most likely did the same to Autobots but Starscream was bashed offline by Optimus Prime before he could test that hypothesis.

Transformers: War for Cybertron

During the Great War Null-Rays were a common weapon used by Scout and Sniper-class Transformers and were Starscream's preferred weapon. They were sniper rifles fitted with 10x zoom scopes and a cloaked Scout's best friend. War for Cybertron

Transformers: Devastation

Starscream wielded his null-rays during clashes with the Autobots on Liberty Bridge and while traveling to Cybertron via space bridge. By defeating him, the Autobots could acquire null-rays of their own, which they could equip for use in battle with the Decepticons. Transformers: Devastation

Toys

Null rays appear on the various toys Starscream has had over the years, though other Seekers (who traditionally have different weapons) have also gotten in on the action. They sometimes fire missiles via a spring launcher and can attach to the arms of the Seeker or at the bottom of their wings.

Notes

• At least once Starscream's null-ray appeared to cause ice to form on affected machinery. This could be a mere error. ^{[citation needed]}
• Clearly Starscream never bothered to patent the null-ray. Bad enough a G.I. Joe agent's daughter used them but so did Whirl.
• Due to the Armada cartoon's frequent translation and dubbing errors, Starscream's "Null Laser Cannon" was randomly referred to as the "Narrow Laser Cannon" despite the visually obvious fact that the laser blast was anything but narrow.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Null kōsen cannon (ナル光線キャノン, "null-ray cannon")
• Mandarin: Nǎi shèxiàn (China, 氖射线, "Neon ray")
• French: Rayon d'annihilation ("Ray of annihilation")
• Italian: Raggio ad energia zero (The Transformers first dub, "Zero energy beam"); Raggio zero (The Transformers second dub, "Zero Beam"); Raggio nullo (Prime, "Null-ray"); Raggio annullatore (The Transformers 40th Anniversary Event dub, "Negating ray")
• Polish: Miotacz promieni Zero (War for Cybertron, "Zero ray rifle")
• Spanish: Neutralizador ("Neutralizer")

References

1. ↑ Earthrise webpage
2. ↑ Kingdom webpage
3. ↑ Starscream's Battle Bio at Hasbro.com